Health Canada to propose changes to allow ground beef irradiation

Health Canada appears ready to try again to make regulatory changes to help prevent the spread of E. coli and other dangerous bacteria.

For more than a decade, industry groups have been pressing to allow the sale of irradiated ground beef in Canada. Negative public reaction has slowed acceptance of such a move. But Health Canada will proposed amendments to food and drug regulations in June to add fresh and frozen ground beef to the list of products already permitted to undergo radiation treatment. The Health Canada website says the amendment would allow, but not require, the beef industry to use irradation to “improve the safety of their products.” There will be a public consultation period.

Health Canada never finalized a 2002 proposal to permit the sale of irradiated beef “due to mostly negatives stakeholder reaction.”